A young farmer has completed an extraordinary 870-mile run from John O'Groats to Land's End in memory of his late father, raising thousands of pounds for cancer research along the way.
Final-year Bath University student William Sercombe finished the challenge in just 16.5 days, averaging around 50 miles a day despite battling soaring temperatures during the recent heatwave and torrential rain while crossing Scotland.
The 22-year-old undertook the challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK in memory of his father, Charles Sercombe, the well-known Leicestershire farmer and former NFU National Livestock Board chair, who died after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2024.
Mr Sercombe was widely respected throughout the farming industry. Alongside running a pedigree Charollais and commercial sheep enterprise near Melton Mowbray, he served the NFU in a range of roles, culminating in six years as chair of the National Livestock Board until 2018.
William began fundraising following his father's diagnosis and said the John O'Groats to Land's End run was by far his toughest challenge to date.
"We knew we would face a variety of weather conditions but didn't predict the heatwave," he said.
"I had to keep ploughing on despite the high temperatures. I just rehydrated more frequently, used a lot more sun cream and walked more during the hottest parts of the day.
"But the worst weather to run in was the 12 hours of torrential rain we faced in Scotland."
Throughout the challenge, William and his support team, including his mother Helen and sisters Grace and Victoria, were helped by farmers across the country, who provided places to park their support vehicle in fields and farmyards.
"We really appreciated all the support we had from farmers along the way," he said.
Crossing the finish line on June 29 marked the end of almost 160 hours of running.
"It was a weird feeling," William said.
"I had been running for 160 hours and all I was thinking about was the finish line and then it was all over.
"To get there after 16.5 days will remain in my memory and gave me a real sense of achievement."
To donate, please go to www.fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org and search for Length of the UK run (William Sercombe) in the giving page box.
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